Scottish Executive

Air Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken a transport economic efficiency report looking specifically at the key benefits of the development of infrastructure such as airports and, if so, whether it will place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Lewis Macdonald: The consultation document The Future Development of Air Transport in Scotland includes a detailed assessment of the impact of forecast passenger growth on airports throughout Scotland, including the impact on economic growth. The document is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 22825).

Central Heating

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) households and (b) pensioners’ homes in postcode areas covering the (i) Hamilton North and Bellshill and (ii) Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency are estimated to be eligible for free central heating under its Central Heating Installation Programme.

Des McNulty: There is no information on which to base such an estimate. Any local authority stock in these postcode areas which currently lacks central heating should have it by 31 March 2004. Any housing association stock which currently lacks central heating should have it during March 2004. Owner-occupiers and private renters who lack central heating will be given every encouragement to apply and all eligible households should receive it by 31 March 2006 at the latest.

Child Welfare

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include children affected by bereavement as well as children affected by matrimonial proceedings in the guidelines under section 19 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

Cathy Jamieson: Guidance on local authority plans for services for children (the subject matter of section 19 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995) issued in October 2001. It is intended to review this guidance in the light of experience with the plans drawn up in 2002 and the position of children affected by bereavement will be taken into account.

Child Welfare

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to recommendations of the Victoria Climbié Inquiry that are not addressed by the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill.

Cathy Jamieson: The recommendations in the Victoria Climbié Inquiry cover a wide range of child protection issues. We are carefully considering these recommendations to ensure that the lessons learned are taken into account in developing our child protection reform programme. The reform programme was announced in response to the national child protection review which reported last November. A Commissioner for Children and Young People could play an important role in this through raising the profile of children’s rights and helping children to be heard.

Drug Misuse

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to cocaine and crack cocaine addicts in the (a) Hamilton North and Bellshill and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency.

Hugh Henry: Guidance on the development of service provision for psychostimulant users, including cocaine and crack cocaine, was issued last August by the Executive’s Effective Interventions Unit, based on the work of the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse. Training modules on dealing with those with psychostimulant problems have been available from STRADA (Scottish Training on Drugs and Alcohol) since November 2002.

  It is for Drug Action Teams and their local partners to assess the level of need in their areas and to ensure that the treatment needs of their local drug using population are met. Individual Drug Action Teams will be asked to detail the work they have undertaken on psychostimulants in this year’s Corporate Action Plans.

  I understand that, whilst the areas in question have not identified a need for specific services for cocaine and crack cocaine users, training has been commissioned for staff of existing services to ensure that they are able to meet the needs of users, should they present to services.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is of a full inspection of an (a) primary and (b) secondary school.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Graham Donaldson, Chief Executive of HM Inspectorate of Education, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The average cost of an inspection of a medium-sized primary, without a nursery class or any special units, is approximately £7,850.

  The average cost of an inspection of a medium-sized secondary, without any special unit, is approximately £19,925.

European Union

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Minister for the Environment and Rural Development has led the United Kingdom delegation to an EU Council meeting since 1999.

Ross Finnie: The Minister for Environment and Rural Development has been part of the UK delegation at EU Council meetings on 16 occasions since 1999. At these Councils, the leader of the UK delegation has been a United Kingdom Government Minister.

Flood Prevention

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to my supplementary question to question S1F-2273 by Mr Jack McConnell on 21 November 2002, when the First Minister will provide me with a written response regarding European funding.

Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32272 on 27 December 2002, and on 3 February I did announce the approval, in full, of additional capital consent, amounting to £1.83 million, to Moray Council to assist with the costs attributed to the floods in Elgin and Forres in November 2002.

  In relation to the Common Agricultural Policy and European Structural Funds, so far as the European Union Solidarity Fund is concerned, this is intended to provide rapid financial assistance in the event of a major disaster. Major disaster is defined as damage estimated at or above €3 billion or more than 0.6% of the gross national income of the state concerned. This clearly would not extend to Moray.

Foster Care

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the arrangements for private fostering.

Cathy Jamieson: The legal framework for private fostering will be considered as part of phase II of the Adoption Policy Review, which will report next year. In addition we have surveyed all local authorities to establish the extent of private fostering.

Mortality

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction there has been in mortality rates from coronary heart disease in the (a) West Dunbartonshire and (b) Argyll and Bute local authority area in each year since 1996.

Hugh Henry: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Mortality Rates from Coronary Heart Disease1 Per 100,000 Population2, 1996-2001

  


Year 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

323 
  

338 
  

287 
  

290 
  

272 
  

266 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

348 
  

356 
  

308 
  

295 
  

294 
  

286 
  



  Notes:

  1. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes 410-414 (1996 to 1999) and Tenth Revision codes I20-I25 (2000 and 2001), ischaemic heart disease.

  2. The rates have been calculated using the latest available mid-year population estimates. Those for 1996 to 2000 are subject to revision to make them consistent with population results from the 2001 Census. The rates have not been age standardised.

Mortality

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the mortality rates per 100,000 population from coronary heart disease in the (a) Hamilton North and Bellshill and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency compare with the Scottish average in each year from 1996 to 2001.

Hugh Henry: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Mortality Rates from Coronary Heart Disease1 Per 100,000 Population2, 1996-2001

  


Year 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  



Hamilton North and Bellshill 
  

274 
  

314 
  

259 
  

286 
  

266 
  

232 
  



Kilmarnock and Loudoun 
  

309 
  

359 
  

292 
  

327 
  

263 
  

256 
  



Scotland 
  

286 
  

274 
  

262 
  

261 
  

245 
  

235 
  



  Notes:

  1. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes 410-414 (1996 to 1999) and Tenth Revision codes 120-125 (2000 and 2001), ischaemic heart disease.

  2. The rates for the parliamentary constituencies were calculated using population data from the 2001 Census. The rates for Scotland have been calculated using the latest available mid-year population estimates. Those for 1996 to 2000 are subject to revision to make them consistent with population results from the 2001 Census. The rates have not been age standardised.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will re-examine any of its present contracts with companies that are part of the Premier Custodial Group Ltd which operates HM Prison and Young Offenders Institution Ashfield and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS see no need to do so. Our contract is working satisfactorily.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authority planning departments have been advised that paragraph 32 in National Planning Policy Guideline NPPG6: Renewable Energy Developments and paragraph 70, including Case Study No 5, in Planning Advice Note 45: Renewable Energy Technologies should be disregarded as the survey "Public Attitudes Towards Wind Farms in Scotland" has been withdrawn

Des McNulty: Public concern over residential and local amenity must be addressed on a case-by-case basis so the contents of these paragraphs are still very relevant. We will shortly write to planning authorities confirming that new research has now been commissioned to provide a more up to date picture even though it is not considered that the key conclusions of the previous survey are materially affected by the sampling error.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the results of the survey "Public Attitudes Towards Wind Farms in Scotland" were used as part of the decision-making process for the re-drafting of planning guidelines in respect of the location of wind farms.

Des McNulty: The survey was not a significant consideration when National Planning Policy Guideline 6: Renewable Energy Developments  was revised. Paragraph 32 of the guideline refers to the research in the context of highlighting the importance of ensuring that local residents are kept informed of individual proposals.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the results of the survey "Public Attitudes Towards Wind Farms in Scotland" have been used as part of the decision-making process in (a) local authority planning committees and (b) public inquiries in respect of the location of wind farms

Des McNulty: Information on the considerations of local authority planning committees is not held centrally. Only one wind farm public inquiry has taken place since the survey was published. This case is currently with the Scottish ministers for decision.

Scottish Executive Consultation

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost will be of the consultation seminars on the draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill.

Cathy Jamieson: The total cost of the consultation seminars on the draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill will be, approximately, £15,500.

Scottish Executive Publications

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of printing, publishing and distributing The Scottish Executive’s Central Heating Programme and the Warm Deal: Annual Report 2001/02 .

Des McNulty: The total cost was £5,500.

Scottish Executive Publications

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of producing and distributing the consultation document for the draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill.

Cathy Jamieson: The total cost of printing the consultation document on the draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill and distributing it with the accompanying framework document, Moving Forward! Additional Support for Learning,  was £24,379.

Special Educational Needs

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase parental representation on its Special Educational Needs Advisory Forum.

Cathy Jamieson: The three-year remit for the current membership of the National Special Educational Needs Advisory Forum comes to an end in March 2003. We intend to review the work of the forum and its purpose, in the light of the proposals outlined in the draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill.

Special Educational Needs

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that children and young people with special needs benefit from the investment in school sport announced as part of the Scottish budget for 2003-06.

Mike Watson: From additional resources identified in 2002-03, the Scottish Executive has allocated £600,000 to  sportscotland to establish a dowry for Scottish Disability Sport. This fund will allow Scottish Disability Sport to provide specialist support to ensure that the needs of children and young people with special needs are addressed as the Active Primary Schools and School Sports Development Officer Programmes are rolled out.

Teachers

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the guidelines under section 19 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 will state that basic training and professional development for teachers should cover bereavement.

Cathy Jamieson: The 2nd Stage of the Review of Initial Teacher Education is due to be commissioned after the forthcoming parliamentary elections and to report around the end of 2003. A range of issues, including bereavement training, will be considered and the review will make recommendations on the skills which should be expected of teachers to achieve initial registration.

  We are, with the General Teaching Council for Scotland, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the teaching organisations, developing a National Framework for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which will be fully in place by August 2003. It is for local authorities to determine what range of continuing professional development it is appropriate to make available for their teachers within their own local frameworks.

Tourism

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement the recommendations made by the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee in paragraphs 213 and 214 of its 1st Report 2003, Report on the Future of Tourism in Scotland , regarding renegotiation of the private finance initiative contract for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd and review of some of the airport regulatory requirements under the current Civil Aviation Authority review.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is considering the recommendations contained in the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee's Report on the Future of Tourism in Scotland , and will respond in due course.

Union of the Crowns

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the (a) Scots and (b) Gaelic language will be assisted by the events planned to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Union of the Crowns.

  The member has provided the following translation:

  A dh’ fhaighneachd do Riaghaltas na h-Alba ciamar a bhios (a) Scots agus (b) Gàidhlig air an cuideachadh leis na tachartasan a thathar a’ dealbhadh gus an 400mh ceann-bliadhna aig Aonadh nan Crùn a chomharrachadh.

Mike Watson: A wide range of events is proposed across Scotland to commemorate the Union of the Crowns anniversary, which we believe will be of interest to all of Scotland’s people.

  The Scottish Executive has provided the following translation:

  Thathar am beachd raon fharsaing de thachartasan a chur air adhart air feadh na h-Alba gus ceann bliadhna Aonadh nan Crùn a chomharrachadh agus tha sinn am beachd gum bi ùidh aig muinntir na h-Alba air fad ann an sin.

Water Charges

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether South Lanarkshire Volunteering Enterprise will qualify as a registered charity under the Hardship Fund for assistance with water rates.

Ross Finnie: The Water Industry Hardship Fund was established to assist organisations that are not eligible to be exempted from water and sewerage charges under the Water and Sewerage Charges (Exemption) (Scotland) Regulations 2002, but which can demonstrate that they are suffering hardship as a result of having relief on their water and sewerage charges withdrawn. The fund is administered on behalf of the Scottish Executive by the Scottish Community Foundation.

  I cannot comment on whether individual cases, such as South Lanarkshire Volunteering Enterprise, will qualify for assistance under the hardship fund. This is a matter for Scottish Community Foundation who administer the fund on behalf of the Scottish Executive.

Water Charges

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of registered charities qualify under the Hardship Fund for assistance with water rates.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34133 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search . We do not hold information on the percentage of registered charities that might qualify for assistance from the Water Industry Hardship Fund.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, with regard to paragraph 20 of The 2001/02 Audit of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body by the Auditor General for Scotland, in respect of which aspects of awarding and managing the Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd contract the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body did not obtain its own legal advice and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, with regard to paragraph 22 of The 2001/02 Audit of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body by the Auditor General for Scotland, why Holyrood project management did not obtain advice from the Parliament’s legal directorate prior to issuing the interim contracts to Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, with regard to paragraph 22 of The 2001/02 Audit of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body by the Auditor General for Scotland, when the request for a parent company guarantee under the second interim contract issued to Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd in January 2001 was first made; what legal advice it has received about whether such a request could be made on demand, and why the request was not made at the outset.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, with regard to paragraph 25 of The 2001/02 Audit of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body by the Auditor General for Scotland, from whom Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd (FCAM) sought an advance payment of £2 million; who made the request on behalf of FCAM; by whom it was received on behalf of the construction managers, and whether the construction managers advised (a) any other member of the Holyrood project team, (b) the Holyrood Progress Group and (c) the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body that the request had been made and, if so, whether they did so before the second interim contract was awarded and on what date such information was first conveyed by the construction managers.

Sir David Steel: The Corporate Body has noted that these four questions are in addition to the 149 the member has already asked about the Holyrood Project. Accordingly, I shall write at length to the member in due course, placing a copy in SPICe.

Parliament Accommodation

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Presiding Officer what minimum notice periods must be complied with prior to surrendering the leases for the Church of Scotland Assembly Hall and other buildings in the parliamentary estate.

Sir David Steel: The Parliament's lease of the Assembly Hall may be surrendered on provision of six months' written notice. No notice is required where the lease is surrendered at the end of the period of lease.

  There are no notice periods stipulated by our current arrangements with the City of Edinburgh Council in respect of 369 and 375 High Street, the Parliamentary Headquarters on George IV Bridge, the Committee Chambers or Cannonball House.

  The Parliament's lease of office accommodation at the Tun may be surrendered by either party with effect from 28 May 2004, on provision of not less than six months' written notice. There are no notice periods stipulated by the Parliament's lease of the Interim Visitor Centre, also at the Tun.

  Finally, the Parliament's license in respect of interim office accommodation at the MWB Business Exchange in Edinburgh may now be terminated on provision of three months' written notice.